Podiatric Care for Elderly People: It’s Not Just About Shoe Inserts and Bunion Creams

Do you suffer from poor circulation in your feet? If so, and you happen to be over the age of 50, chances are you’re in good company. Why? It is a condition that commonly affects our country’s senior members, especially those that live rather sedentary lifestyles. It may lead to edema, undesirable skin changes, prolonged infections, painful cramps and a thickening of the toenails. On an upbeat note, receiving podiatric care geared towards elderly people may help resolve at least some of those complaints.

Podiatrists typically attack circulatory problems using a variety of modalities. For example, they may suggest that seniors start using topical creams that contain a mixture of L-Arginine and nitric oxide (e.g. HealthiFeet). They are widely recognized as two agents that help improve blood vessel health and overall circulation. This is often especially the case when they are combined with therapeutic massage, hot/cold therapy and foot exercises.

It is also not unusual for podiatrists that believe in using a holistic approach to treat elderly people’s feet to prescribe the use of herbal supplements or medicinal herbs. The list of those that are known to help improve circulation in the lower extremities includes, but isn’t restricted to ginkgo biloba, vitamin C, ginger, fish oil and cayenne pepper. Those types of treatments are normally paired with biofeedback assisted relaxation sessions, yoga, Epsom salt foot baths, acupuncture, support stockings and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

Other podiatrists may prefer to stick with manmade, over-the-counter or prescription medications. Examples include vasodilators, calcium channel and alpha blockers. However, because many elderly people take so many medications already, this is not always possible. Therefore, some podiatrists may work with the person’s other doctors and pharmacists to come up with compound medications that may help.

In addition, podiatric care for the elderly also tends to include routine tasks like nail trimming, callus removal and the aggressive treatment of fungal or bacteria generated infections. To learn more about them and the other treatments mentioned above, please reach out to one of our well respected podiatrists today.